Wheel structure



E. E, EINFELDTr WHEEL STRUCTURE April s, 1930.

Filed Dec. 29. 1927 JNVENToR.

A TTORNEYS,

Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST E. EINFELDT, OFDAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO FRENCH & HECHT, INCOR- PORATED, ACORPORATION 0Fy IOWA i WHEEL STRUCTURE Application led December 29,1927. Serial No. 243,281.

This invention relates to wheel structures and particularly to so calledhand wheels, employed among other purposes for adjusting movable parts,hand wheels for such purpose comprising a hub to be operativelyconnected with the part' to be moved, spokes radiating from the hub, anda rim member connected with the spokes, the wheel being turned either bygrasping the rim member, or the spokes may be extended beyond the rimmember and handles applied thereto for turning the wheel.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a structure of thistype which will be Y of simple and durable form, and which may beproduced at a minimum of expense, and with these and other objects inviewthe invention consists of the improved form and arrangement of partsdescribed in detail in the specification to follow, and the novelfeatures of which will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of a hand wheelstructure having my invention embodied therein. j

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same, the section being takenaxially Vof the wheel.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale,showing how the rim is connected with the spokes.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a different methodof attaching the handles to the spokes. j

Referring to the drawings;

In Figs. 1,2, 3, 1 designates a hub, 2 spokes connected to and radiatingtherefrom, 3 a rim member attached to the spokes near their outer ends,whereby the outer end portions 2a of the spokes will project beyondthe'rim, and 4 designates handles applied to the projecting ends of thespokes.

My invention is concerned mainly with the attachment of the rim rigidlyand integrally to the spokes, and in accordance with the invention thisis effected by seating the rim against the sides of the spokes andintegrally connecting together the contacting portions of the two asbest shown in Fig. 3.

I prefer to effect such integral connection of the parts by a weldingoperation, preferably spot welding, the effect of which will cause themetal of the rim and spokesto Vflow into each other as shown at 5 inFig. 3; or instead of spot welding, the parts may be welded together byother means or methods.

By this method of attaching the rim to the spokes, a firm and solidunion of the parts will be eected without the necessity of forming holesin the rim to receive the spokes and forming shoulders on the spokes tobear against the outer and inner sides yof, the rim as heretoforepracticed; whereby, a saving of time, labor, material and expense iseffected, and a solid, integral, unitary structure is produced.

The spokes are of a lengthto project to a considerable extent outwardlybeyond the rim, to receive the handles 4, which .in the form of theinvention shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, are provided with holes extendinglongitudinally therethrough to receive the projecting ends of thespokes, and the handles j are held in place on the spokes with theirinner ends seated against and receivingv a ybearing from the outer sideof the rim, by

meansof rivets or heads 6 on the outer ends of the spokes-bearingagainst washers 7 which in turn bear againsty the outer ends of thehandles.-

The wheel thus produced is of simple and durableconstruction and is inthe formof a single unitary integral structure,.and therefore may bemanufactured at a little expense, and being so formed theregwill belittle or no liability' of the parts'becoming loose or being displaced.

In Fig. 4 the handles 4a are shown as fastened to the projectingportions 2a of the spokes by forming screw threads 8 on the latter andscrewing the handles thereon.

In the foregoing descriptionA and accompanying` drawings I 4have setforth my invention in the specific form and arrangement of parts which Iprefer to adopt, but it will be understood that these details may bevariously Changed and modified by the skilled mechanic without departingfrom the limits of the invention; and it will be further understood thatthe invention is not limited to any particular form or construction ofthe parts except in so ar as such limitations are specified in theclaims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is l 1. Ina wheel structure, the combination of a hub,spokes connected thereto, a rim having unbroken surface portions seatedagainst and'conn'ected integrally with the sides of the spokes inward oftheir out-erv ends and leaving portions of the spokes projecting beyondthe rim, and handles applied to the vprojecting portions of the spokes.

2. In a wheel structure, the combination of"'a"hub, spokes connectedthereto', a rim seated against and connected integrally withth'efsidesof the spokes inward of their outer endsand leaving-portionsof the'spok'es projecting-b'e'yond the rim, handlessurrounding the'Iprojectingportions of the spokes and seatedagainst the rim, and heads onthe outer endsof the spokes bearing against the outerendsfloftlref'handles and confining them' on the spokes and in positiveengagement with the' rim. p

In a wheel structure, the combination of a'h'ub, a seri'es'fofspoke'sconnected thereto, and a rinr seated laterally-against saidspokes at points intermediate their ends, said spokes and rim beingcircular in cross section at their points'` of contact andweldedtogether at sli'chipoints'.

4. In a wheel structure, the combination of afhub, a series of spokesconnected thereto, a rim seated against and having lateral con-V tactonly with thel said spokes at points intermediate their ends, saidspokes and rim being welded together at such points of contact.

5. In a wheel structure, the combination of a hub, a series of spokesconnected thereto, a rim seated against and having lateral contact onlywith the said spokes at points intermediate their ends, said spokes andrim being Y Welded together at such points'of'contact,

and handles arranged on' the protruding ends ofthe spokes.

In' testimony whereof, I have aiHXed my signature hereto. Y K

ERNEST' E; EINFELDT.

